Anna Hazare taking on corruption with indefinite fast

New Delhi, Apr 5: He is imbibing the spirit of the aam aadmi who has had enough of the scams and controversies that is defining the governance in the country. With innumerable scandals the country is facing now, social activist Anna Hazare has decided to take things in his hand and take on the corrupt babus by fasting unto death against corruption.

Starting on Tuesday, Hazare will fast seeking to implement a Lok Pal law at the Centre. Following appeals from various quarters to not undergo fasting, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh he did not relent. Hazare said that a a joint committee that includes civil society members and government officials should be set up to draft the law.

Hazare was also critical of the government version of the law and said, "Like SC and Election Commission, an independent body called Jan Lokpal should be set up at the Centre and a Jan Lokayukta should be set up in each state to receive complaints of corruption, investigate them within six months and prosecute the guilty."

With constant pressure from the PMO's office requesting Hazare not to undertake the fast, after continuous prodding Hazare agreed to meet a group of ministers who will meet Hazare's group of activists. It has to be remembered that the Prime Minister has high regard for the campaigner Anna Hazare.

Hazare has already written to the PM, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and BJP leader LK Advani on his efforts to sweep corruption out of the country. He added, "I have got so much energy from the positive response of people across Maharashtra that I can undertake an indefinite fast."

Earlier, Hazare had rejected the Lokpal Bill drafted by a group of ministers from the transparency and accountability sub-group that comes under NAC. The NAC is headed by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. With a massive fan base, there are many followers who want to take up the cause with much fervour.

Other supporters of the Lokpal Bill include Sri Sri Ravishankar, Baba Ramdev, Vincent Concessao and Jamiat-Ulema-i-Hind who all plan to adopt Hazare's approach. A total of 7.5 crore people have rooted for a revised Lokpal Bill than the one drafted by the government.